Streams

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Michael Neuman of Doctors Without Borders talks about how his organization carries out delicate humanitarian negotiations in hostile environments. Conor Grennan discusses his work with victims of child trafficking victims in Nepal. The BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects continues with a look at an early flood tablet. Robert Harris talks about his best-selling novel The Fear Index. Plus, New Yorker staff writer Ryan Lizza explains what internal memos can tell us about the Obama Administration, and he’ll give us an update on the Florida Primary!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Frank Newman, a former Deputy Secretary of the United States Treasury Department, discusses some of the reasons that China’s economy is booming while America’s is struggling. Merle Hoffman looks back on her life as a crusader for a woman’s right to choose. The BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects continues with a look at an early writing tablet. We’ll find out how mercury is causing problems for songbirds and bats in the Northeast. Plus, at a time when the immigration debate is heating up, we’ll have a panel discussion about green cards—with an immigration lawyer and two immigrants who’ll tell us about their experiences.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Michael Rogosin discusses his father Lionel’s groundbreaking film “Come Back, Africa,” which depicted life in South Africa under apartheid. He’s joined by two fans of the film: Harry Belafonte and Robert Downey, Sr. Musician Storm Large tells us about her rocky life and her memoir, Crazy Enough. Today’s installment of the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects is about a jade axe. Plus, we continue our Please Explain series on how to save the world—this week, we’ll tackle population growth, and control.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Former Chilean president Ricardo Lagos talks about how his country has made the transition from the oppression of the Pinochet regime to a modern, open society. Pop legend Petula Clark on her first New York nightclub engagement since the 1970s. Today’s installment of the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects looks at an official seal used for documents in the Indus Valley civilization. Plus, we’ll have our latest Backstory segments.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

We’ll take a look at why there is far more religion in America’s public schools today than there has been over the past 100 years. Elmore Leonard discusses his latest novel, Raylan. The BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects continues, with a look at an elaborately decorated Sumerian wood standard found in the city of Ur. Plus, military expert Paula Broadwell discusses the career and ideas of General David Petraeus, now the director of the CIA.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill discuss their new documentary “In Tahrir Square: 18 Days of Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution,” along with Egyptian-American journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous, who joins us from Cairo. Jonathan Capehart tells us what we can expect from President Obama’s State of the Union Speech. The latest installment of the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects takes a look at an ivory sandal label from ancient Egypt. We’ll speak to Alex Gilvarry about his debut novel, From the Memoirs of a Non-enemy Combatant. Plus, comic actor Stephen Fry on his life and career!

Monday, January 23, 2012

It’s been two years since an earthquake destroyed much of Haiti. Laurent Dubois joins us to look at what has happened to this troubled country in the light of its long and difficult history. We’ll find out about the story of the last queen of Hawaii and her conflicts with missionaries, sugar barons, and other Western settlers. The BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects continues with a look at a 10,000 year-old Japanese pot. Ben Marcus talks about his new novel, The Flame Alphabet. Plus, our resident safety expert Monona Rossol is joined by a woodworker who has invented a new device that makes it nearly impossible to be injured by a table saw.

Friday, January 20, 2012

You may think that the best solution to cutting down on climate change is recycling or discouraging people from driving SUV’s, but Gernot Wagner argues that the only solutions to climate change are collective, economic decisions. We’ll take a look at Saturday’s South Carolina Primary and the tightening Republican race for President. A History of the World in 100 Objects continues with a look at a Mayan Maize God Statue. Plus, our latest Please Explain is the first in a series about saving the world, starting with a look at the world’s water supply.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

We’ll investigate the growing problem of plagiarism in scientific and medical journals. Then, we’ll look at many of the ideas and methods of the Inquisition—from surveillance to censorship to waterboarding—and how they remain with us today. Today’s installment of the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects is about an Egyptian clay model of cattle. Plus, we’ll have our latest Backstory segments!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Resource scarcity is often cited as a reason for military conflicts all over the world, and on today’s show we’ll look at the impact austerity and scarce resources are having on American politics. Shalom Auslander talks about his debut novel Hope: A Tragedy. The latest object in the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects is an ancient stone carving of two lovers embracing. Broadway star Michael Cerveris on his other career as an indie singer/songwriter and guitarist. And, our resident word maven, Patricia T. O’Conner, answers your questions about the English language.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Former New York police commissioner and LA police chief William Bratton talks about how networks and other technology are allowing police departments around the world to collaborate with each other. Steven Soderbergh and Gina Carano discuss the new film “Haywire.” The latest installment of the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects looks at a bird-shaped pestle from Papua New Guinea. Asghar Farhadi discusses directing the film “A Separation,” Iran’s official selection for this year’s Academy Awards. Ralph Fiennes talks about starring in “Coriolanus,” which also marks his debut as a director.

Monday, January 16, 2012

We’ll mark Martin Luther King Day by devoting our first hour to Leonard’s annual special of classic gospel music that was recorded during Martin Luther King’s lifetime. Today’s installment of the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects takes a look at the Clovis Spear Point. We’ll find out why the competition surrounding New York City’s Preschool Gifted and Talented Test is so fierce. Matilda Raffa Cuomo discusses editing a book of famous people’s recollections about the people who changed their lives; she’s joined by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who talks about his mentors.

Friday, January 13, 2012

On today’s show: the one and only Dolly Parton stops by to talk about her career in music and movies, and her role in the new film “Joyful Noise.” The documentary “Man on a Mission” looks at Richard Garriott’s quest to blast into space, and we’ll speak with him and the film’s director, Michael Woolf. Today’s segment of the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects examines an Ice Age carving oftwo swimming reindeer. Plus our latest Please Explain is all about tuberculosis.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

On today’s show: Philip Galanes, the New York Times “Social Q’s” advice columnist, returns to field your questions about awkward workplace situations. Anna Deavere Smith talks about her one-woman “Let Me Down Easy.” The BBC’s series A History of the World in 100 Objects continues with a look at an Olduvai Hand Axe! Plus our latest Backstory segments look at the hacker collective Anonymous and at the tenth anniversary of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Vanity Fair contributing editors Bryan Burrough, William D. Cohan, and Bethany McLean fill us in on Jon Corzine’s manyprofessional—and personal—tribulations. Humorist Dave Barry discusses collaborating with Alan Zweibel to write the new novel, Lunatics. Today’s installment of the BBC series A History of the World in 100 Objects looks at an Olduvai stone chipping tool! Plus, the gurus-of-how-to Al & Larry Ubell stop by to answer your home-repair questions!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Director Alexander Payne stops by to discuss his latest, critically acclaimed film, “The Descendants,” as well as his other films. For the first Leonard Lopate Show Book Club of 2012, Gary Shteyngart talks about his satirical novel, Absurdistan! We’ll kick off the BBC series, A History of the World in 100 Objects, with the Mummy of Hornedjitef! Plus, we’ll get a preview of the New Hampshire primary! Plus, NPR’s Mike Pesca and his two “Hang Up and Listen” collaborators talk about football.

Monday, January 09, 2012

Double-blind clinical trials are the current medical standard, but could they be damaging the chances for patients in dire need of getting treatments? We’ll look at the potential dangers of relying on clinical trials that involve placebos. Graphic designer Bob Gill talks about his colorful career. Swedish crime thriller writers Arne Dahl, Anders Roslund, and Borge Hellstrom discuss their work and the growing popularity of Scandinavian mystery writing. Plus, Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, gives us a preview of a celebrated BBC series that we’ll be running on our show—The History of the World in 100 Objects!

Friday, January 06, 2012

Michael Hastings talks about his latest book, which tells the inside story of the American military’s campaign in Afghanistan. Condola Rashad, Rosie Benton, and Tracie Thoms discuss starring in the hit play “Stick Fly.” Tran Anh Hung talks about directing the film “Norwegian Wood,” which is based on the Haruki Murakami’s internationally best-selling novel. And Please Explain is about compulsive hoarding!

Thursday, January 05, 2012

We’re talking a lot about food on today’s show: New York Times contributor Melissa Clark starts us off with a discussion which tools are essential in the kitchen and which we can probably live without. Georgia Pelligrini, a classically trained chef talks about why she started hunting. Pam Anderson shares meatless recipes and tips for full-time and part-time vegetarians. Plus, food for thought: our latest Backstory segments.

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Thomas Frank starts us off with a look at an atypical revival of conservatism during an economic downturn. Adam Gopnik examines how food has become a major preoccupation of our culture and discussesits significance in our daily lives. Plus, we’ll search out some of the fading ads on buildings all over New York City. And we’ll take a look at the role of social networking in modern life—for better or worse— and we’ll take calls on the issue: do you or don’t you Facebook and are you on LinkedIn?

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

On today’s show: Errol Louis takes a look at what's in store for Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address. Curator John Guy tells us about the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition “Wonder of the Age: Master Painters of India, 1100-1900.” William Doyle discusses the important work of Captain Travis Patriquin, who was instrumental in turning the tide of the war in Iraq before he was killed by an IED. And we’ll learn about an important maritime battle of the war of 1812.

Monday, January 02, 2012

Michael Pollan talks about the latest edition of his eating manifesto Food Rules. Purple Heart recipient Bryan Anderson describes the injuries he suffered during his tours of Iraq. James Romm discusses his compelling account of Alexander the Great. Joan Didion tells us about Blue Nights, her latest memoir that deals with the death of her daughter, Quintana Roo.

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